Certified Spanish Translator and Interpreter

The Interpretator

I dislike the misuse of acronyms and industry-specific jargon; I think that the convenience of saving yourself a breath or two by using them without first explaining what they mean, does not make up for the fact that the person that you are addressing could have no idea of what it's actual meaning.

Here are my two cents for those who are not familiar with the translation / interpreting acronyms / jargon:

CHUCHOATAGE - A variety of simultaneous interpretation in which the interpreter whispers the renditions to a listener.

CONSECUTIVE INTERPRETERS - Listen and then translate after something has been said.

INTERPRETATION - The act of rendering a verbal message from one language into another, accurately and completely, meaning by meaning and not word-for-word.

LEP – Limited English Proficient (person is implied).

LOCALIZATION - The process of translating a product into different languages or adapting a product for a specific country or region.

OPI – Over the Phone Interpreter; an interpreter that provides services remotely, over the phone.

PM – Project Manager; in a language-services company, is the person in charge of coordinating projects and assignments.

SIGHT TRANSLATION - Can be defined as the reading of a text by the interpreter from the source language into the target language, simultaneously, in a manner in which the content of the document can be easily understood by the audience.

SIMULTANEOUS INTERPRETERS - Listen and interpret while something is still being said—with very little delay.

TRANSCREATION - Adapting a message from one language to another, while maintaining its intent, style, tone and context.

TRANSCRIPTION - To put speech or data into written or printed words.

TRANSLATION - The act of moving written text from one language to another

TRANSLITERATION - To convert a text from one script into another; for example, a word written with Greek characters, transformed into Latin ones.

As an interpreter, I constantly hear Spanish-speakers from different backgrounds and levels of education; some remain very loyal to our native language and others, due to the influence of the English language, are starting to blend the two into what we know as “Spanglish”.

Spanglish is more than the well-known and obvious expressions such as “yo tengo billes que pagar” [I have bills to pay]; there are many other “additions” to this dictionary that are far more discrete, such as “tengo que llenar una aplicación” [I have to fill out an application]. The latter always makes me question my renditions and wonder if I'm using the right terms.

Now I want to share with you this list I started this as a personal exercise and constant reminder of these common false cognates:

The word: Is not:It should be:

Apply, (to)Aplicar Solicitar

Attend Atender Asistir

Carpet Carpeta Alfombra, tapiz

Cervix Cérvix* Cuello uterino (o del útero)

College Colegio Universidad, instituto.

Constipation Constipación Estreñimiento

Cup Copa Taza

Defendant Defendido Acusado, demandado

Discuss DiscutirPlaticar, hablar acerca de [...]

Disorder Desorden Trastorno

Drugs (medications) Drogas Fármacos, medicinas

Embarrassed Embarazada/o Avergonzado, apenado

Expiration Expiración Vencimiento

Facilities Facilidades Instalaciones

Fence Fenza Cerca, verja

Insurance Aseguranza Seguro

Introduce Introducir Presentar

Intoxicated Intoxicado Embriagado, ebrio, borracho

Language Lenguaje Idioma, lengua

Library Librería Biblioteca

To move (in or out)MoverseMudarse

Nurse Norsa Enfermera

Qualified Calificado Capacitado, reúne los requisitos

Recipient Recipiente Destinatario, receptor

Remark Remarcar Comentario

Sympathy Simpatía Empatía

Truck Troca Camión, camioneta

Tubes (Fallopian) Tubos Trompas

Yard Yarda Jardín, patio

* The RAE dictionary (Real Academia Española) has this term under consideration for future inclusion: RAE.es